Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Develop offers training and quality improvement tools to support early learning & school-age care. Developtoolmn.org is the one-stop-shop where you and your organization can get the tools you want and need to build upon your success. Together, we’re developing a brighter future for all of Minnesota’s children.

Develop is the Minnesota Registry, but it’s also so much more. That’s why we gave it a new look and a new name. It still has all the same features of the Registry and still has all your Registry data. But we’ve built on new features so now you can do even more. Explore this website to learn more.

It takes a village to run Develop. Achieve, the Minnesota Center for Professional Development, plays a big part in operating and supporting the professional development features within Develop. Parent Aware staff housed at the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Education play a big part in operating and supporting the Parent Aware features within Develop. Some Child Care Aware staff also use Develop, and we are adding new partners all the time. This collaborative approach makes Develop a one-stop-shop for all your early learning & school-age care needs.

If you are an individual who works directly with children or whose work supports the early learning and school-age care community, you should consider an individual membership in Develop. You can plan and track your professional development, become an approved trainer or RBPD Specialist, and/or submit courses and events for approval. In other words, individual membership is for:

Caregivers and Family child care providers

Teachers, assistants, and aides

Program Directors, Coordinators, and other administrators

Specialists

Trainers

RBPD Specialists (Coaches, Mentors, and Consultants)

If your organization provides direct care and education to children or provides supports to the early learning and school-age care community, you should consider an organization membership in Develop. You can track the professional development of your staff, become an approved training organization, and/or submit courses and events for approval. In other words, organization membership is for:

Develop was made possible by Minnesota’s Race to the Top—Early Learning Challenge Grant, with ongoing funding provided by the Child Care Development Fund Block Grant, as managed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Develop aims to be a one-stop-shop for all your early learning & school-age care needs. With a single login, you will be connected to Achieve, the Minnesota Center for Professional Development, Parent Aware, and more. Just as you grow and improve every day, Develop is also continuously growing and improving. Below are some of the features that already exist or are under construction:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Use self-assessment tools to identify opportunities for professional growth.

Develop is a toolbox. We hope you will find useful tools here, but your participation is voluntary. Please note, however, that some programs (like child care programs participating in Parent Aware) and some employers do require some level of participation.

All professionals working in the field of early education and/or child care are encouraged to become individual members of Develop. This includes individuals providing direct care or education to children and also individuals who support the care and education of children by administering programs, supporting those who work directly with children, and working to build the quality of the field as a whole. Becoming an individual member of Develop means that you will document your professional achievements in Develop and track your progress on the Career Lattice. Until you have submitted an application for membership, sent in the required documents, and received your Career Lattice Step, you are not yet a member of Develop. Membership is free.

To become an individual member of Develop, login to Develop as an individual.

On your Account Summary page, click the box next to Become a Member, then click on the Apply button.

You will then be asked to create your professional profile by entering information about your education, your employment history, the trainings you have attended, and other ways in which you contribute to the profession.

When you have entered all relevant information, be sure to click Submit Application on the last page of the application.

You will then need to send in documentation of your professional achievements so that they can be verified.

When all materials are received and verified, you will be issued a Certificate congratulating you for your Career Lattice Step.

On the left hand side of the page you will see "Don’t have an account?"

Under that header, click on Register as an Organization.

Fill out the information on all the pages. (Items marked with an asterisk (*) are required.)

On the last page of the Registration form, click on Submit.

Once you have completed the Organization Registration process, you’ll wait for a phone call and/or email to confirm that you created the account (this protects you from someone fraudulently claiming your account).

Once you confirm the account, you will be sent an email with your organization ID and password.

Develop Membership Cards

What is a Develop membership card?

Your card has your name, ID number, and a QR code that trainers can scan to quickly and accurately record your attendance.

Note: Cards are not valid proof of current membership.

Who receives a Develop membership card?

Current members receive Develop membership cards in the mail. If you have never been a member or have an expired membership, you can receive a card by applying for your first membership or by renewing your membership. Your membership card will be mailed to you separately from your Career Lattice Step certificate. Not sure if your membership is current? Sign in and check your account!

How can I use my Develop membership card?

Your Develop membership card can help make sure you get credit for training events you attend. Here's how it works:

Show your Develop membership card to the trainer or event organizer.

Participating trainers or event organizers can scan your card with a smart phone or mobile device and easily take attendance. If a trainer is not able to scan your card, they can use your name and Develop ID number to record your attendance.

Once the trainer has recorded your attendance, the training event will appear on your Develop Learning Record.

What if I did not receive my card or need a replacement card?

Your Develop membership card is printed and mailed when you become a Develop member or when you request a replacement card. You can request a replacement card by clicking the "Request New Card" link on the Summary tab in your individual account. This may take up to 6 weeks to receive your card. If you have any questions about membership cards, please contact Develop at support@develophelp.zendesk.com.

In the top right corner of the screen, you'll see a Login icon that looks like a house with a keyhole. Click on that icon to go to the Login page. Under the “Sign In” button, you will see the words “Forgot User ID or Password?” Click on these words and then enter your email address. Your password will be sent to that email address.

No. If you're already in Parent Aware, your Star Rating will display in Develop. If you already have an Organization Account, you can login and go to the Parent Aware tab to see your current Star Rating. If you do not yet have an Organization Account, you are invited to create an Organization Account. When it is time to be re-rated, you can apply for your new Star Rating online.

Courses are defined as a set of content (theory, knowledge, and/or skills) delivered at a certain level of depth (which determines the number of hours). Events are instances of a course – delivered by a particular trainer, on a particular day, in a particular location, in a particular format (classroom or online), and in a particular language. Two events for the same course may differ in many ways from one another, but the title of the course, the description of the course, the number of clock hours, and the content covered (including Core Competency) will always be the same, regardless of the event.

If you have questions about professional development or about your individual membership, contact the Minnesota Center for Professional Development. Toll free phone: 855-378-3131 or email at support@mncpd.org If you have questions about using the Parent Aware features in Develop, send an email to support@parentaware.zendesk.com. You'll get a response within 72 hours. If you’re not sure who is best suited to answer your question, click here to complete the Contact Form to send an email. We'll find the right person and get back to you within 72 hours.

All directors, education coordinators, and lead providers/lead teachers must have an Individual Membership in Develop.

Starting July 1, all providers/lead teachers must have a current membership AND must identify their current employer by license number.

Programs have the OPTION to register their organization online, apply online, and submit documentation online, but this is totally voluntary. Paper applications and documentation will still be accepted.

Programs that choose to register their organization will be able to get reports on all their staff members and track their progress online, even if they choose to mail in their paperwork rather than completing it online.

For Head Start grantees (including their sites) and School Districts (including their sites):

No individual memberships are required.

Grantees and Districts are encouraged to register their organizations and apply online, but they are not required to do so. A paper application is available online at parentawareratings.org. and can be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Grantees and districts will be able to apply for Parent Aware on behalf of their sites without registering their sites.

If you have a question, please contact:
Jessica Mattson, Parent Aware Coordinator for MDE
Minnesota Department of Education
(651) 582-8744jessica.mattson@state.mn.us

If you ever forget your Individual ID, we want to be able to help you regain access to your account. When two people have very similar names, it can be difficult to determine which account belongs to which person. Because most of us know our Social Security Number (SSN), this is an easy way to more uniquely identify a person. If you don’t have a SSN or are uncomfortable providing your SSN, you can provide a different 5-digit number to help us identify your account.

Great question! Everyone who works on Develop is committed to protecting your personal information. For more details about what we can and can't do with your personal information, read the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Tool Tips

Keep an eye out for helpful Tool Tips throughout the Develop app. Tool Tips are marked by an icon that shows a question mark inside a circle (?). Expand the Tool Tip by clicking this icon with your mouse!

Helpful How-to Articles

Below are a number of how-to articles on Develop. Please reference whether the article is for individuals or for organizations.